Migraine without Aura and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Young Females: Is Gut Microbiota to Blame?

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Migraine with aura (MA) could be considered a risk factor for developing atherosclerosis and cardio-vascular events. However, less is known about the relation between migraine without aura (MWA) and atherosclerosis. Our study aimed to assess whether young female migraineurs, with alterations of gut microbiota could associate early atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods: We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional, pilot study concerning 105 consecutive young females having MWA, with recent normal brain scans, that were free of cardio-vascular risk factors, non-smokers, not on oral contraception, not pregnant, and without thyroid or parathyroid diseases, chronic organ failure, cancer, or on probiotic or antibiotic treatment. Consecutive to assessment of gut microbiota, patients were assigned to two groups: dysbiosis positive (n = 45) and dysbiosis negative (n = 60). All study participants underwent clinical examinations with an assessment of migraine severity, body mass index and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as well as laboratory workups. Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-squared test (χ2), a two-tailed t-test and a nonparametric Spearman’s correlation test. Results: The dysbiosis positive migraineurs showed a significant increase in CIMT along with several anthropometrical, biological and clinical particularities. Significant positive correlations between dysbiosis and CIMT, glycosylated hemoglobin, migraine severity and duration, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and body mass index were found. Conclusions: Young female migraineurs with significant alterations of gut microbiota experienced early signs of atherosclerosis and displayed severe migraine disability, as well as multiple biological and clinical particularities.

NASH/NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Added Burden

“…Over the past decades, gut microbiota dysbiosis has been increasingly associated with various conditions, either functional, such as irritable bowel syndrome [48,49] or organic such as atherosclerosis and hypertension [50][51][52] as well as metabolic syndrome and NAFLD [53,54]. There is growing support for the idea that gut microbiota dysbiosis could contribute to NAFLD development, with numerous pathways being engaged.…”

Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism in Migraine and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

“…Georgescu et al observed a strong positive correlation between severity of migraine and dysbiosis assessed in fecal microbiota of IBS patients [ 156 ]. The same authors reported that about half of the population of young female migraineurs without aura had gut microbiota dysbiosis [ 157 ]. These authors concluded that patients with significant alterations in gut microbiota showed early signs of atherosclerosis and displayed severe migraine disability.…”

Role of herbal medicine for prevention and treatment of migraine

“…Furthermore, elevated oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of migraine (Cavestro, Ferrero, Mandrino, Di Tavi, & Rota, 2019; Ferroni et al, 2018). Interestingly, gut microbiota and permeability may be in association with the progression of migraine (G. Anderson, 2019; Georgescu et al, 2019). Herbal medicines discussed in the review have a significant impact on neurovascular processes of migraine, and therefore, hold bright prospects in the management of this disorder.…”